REC JobsOutlook shows employers short term uncertainty

Ahead of today's official unemployment figures, the March JobsOutlook survey from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) shows signs of stabilisation in the UK's jobs market.

Whilst 94 per cent of employers expect their workforces to remain static or grow in the next year, the latest data shows some short term uncertainty with a slight dip in employer confidence.

Commenting on the JobsOutlook findings, Roger Tweedy, the REC's Director of Research, said: "Businesses remain cautious in the face of political and economic uncertainty ahead of the general election. The blip in employer confidence follows an upward trend and can be linked to concerns over public expenditure which is already starting to impact directly on public sector jobs. Achieving efficiencies - whilst ensuring that staffing arrangements can maintain front line services - is a core message of the REC's Public Sector Resourcing campaign.

On the whole, the longer term outlook for UK jobs continues to be positive with the vast majority of employers not expecting to make further job cuts and nearly 20 per cent expecting to increase staffing levels over the coming year.
One in four employers are planning to take on extra agency workers in the next year which demonstrates the importance that flexibility plays in keeping people active in the labour market.